I am due to have a baby via c-section in the beginning of March. I live in Florida and my husband is in the Air Force, so my medical care will be provided by the military.
I signed a form stating I do NOT wish to recieve blood or blood products should the need arise. Additionally I have an advance directive stating my wishes that has been placed in my med records. This is not an issue of religion, simply a personal preference.
Now my surgeon has stated that neither of those forms are worth the paper they are printed on due to the fact that I am pregnant. The surgeon stated quite clearly to me that should I need blood, it will be given, and my wishes and legal forms mean nothing.
I checked into FL law and found that if the baby is viable, they must abide by my wishes, but they are being quite argumentative. Our baby is viable now (37 weeks gestation) yet the surgeon continues to tell me that my wishes will not be abided by.
Can they legally force a blood product on me after the baby has been removed from my body?
Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Carol